Journalistic sources describe Maduro's life during his confinement in Brooklyn

Two newspaper articles describe the conditions of Nicolás Maduro's detention in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and indicate that he spends time reading religious and philosophical texts. One of them, attributed to The New York Times, bases its data on testimonies of people familiar with his situation. According to the accounts, his readings include the Bible and the Koran, and he has spoken with a Catholic priest and a rabbi. The sources consulted by the newspaper spoke anonymously.

Reports indicate that Maduro's spiritual interest would have intensified during his imprisonment, although versions differ on how much interest he had before he was arrested. The first says that it is not known if his approach responds to intellectual concerns or a spiritual search; the second claims that his interest already existed. Both recall that Maduro has claimed to have Sephardic Jewish roots, linked to ancestors who emigrated from the Netherlands Antilles to Venezuela.

The sources also report diverse religious backgrounds. During his term, Maduro presented himself as a Catholic, sought to reach out to evangelical communities and shared with Cilia Flores and Delcy Rodríguez an interest in the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba, an Indian spiritual leader. The New York Times report adds that people close to the former president do not remember that before the capture he showed particular interest in Judaism. The texts do not determine what motivated the change described.

As for his physical condition, people quoted by the newspaper say Maduro has lost weight and complained about the food he receives in prison. Before his arrest, he was on a Paleolithic diet, which he has not been able to keep in custody. The articles do not agree in describing the period of weight loss, but both attribute the change to testimonies from people familiar with his eating habits, not to a disclosed medical evaluation.

The reports also describe Flores' health problems. Court documents cited by The New York Times indicate that she lost more than 11 kilograms and two teeth, and that she received nitroglycerin for chest pains. Her legal team reportedly stated that she may have suffered a cardiac episode, without the texts providing official medical confirmation. One of the publications adds that she was recovering from a hysterectomy when she was arrested and that she was in solitary confinement.

Both articles note that Maduro and Flores were captured in a U.S. operation in Caracas and flown to New York. Both pleaded not guilty to charges that include alleged drug trafficking activities. The second report offers additional details about Flores' situation and the judicial process, but not all of them appear in the other source. Information about the couple's prison life and health comes from testimonies and documents cited by those media.